Tackling fuel poverty with free heating

Ben O’Connell

Residents in Northumberland are set to benefit from a new scheme which will see free central heating fitted to a number of homes without, or with only partial, central heating.

Thanks to a £6.5million government grant, the project, led by Northumberland County Council, is part of a nationwide Central Heating Fund scheme to tackle fuel poverty.

The funding was awarded to a scheme involving nine North East local authorities: Northumberland County Council, Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council, with the emphasis on rural areas.

A number of residents in Northumberland who may be eligible for the fund will receive a letter with full information starting from yesterday.

Coun Allan Hepple, cabinet member for economic growth at Northumberland County Council, said: “We’re delighted to be able to begin installing free central heating into the homes of those who need it most.

“Fuel poverty is a serious problem, particularly in rural areas like Northumberland, but by offering this support to residents, we are able to improve the energy efficiency of Northumberland homes as well as residents’ general health and wellbeing.”

Residents can find out more information by visiting www.northumberland.gov.uk/freeheatingTwenty projects nationwide were awarded funding, totalling £25million, as part of the Central Heating Fund scheme which aims to improve the energy efficiency of more than 7,000 households across England.